For tech cracked leaky radiator

Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 1998 SATURN SL2
  • 90,000 MILES
So how come they seem to all fail in the same place around this yr? Right under the top inlet hose they swell and crack. 2 FAMILY CARS have had the exact same failure.
Friday, August 2nd, 2013 AT 11:13 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
From 1991 first year to 2002 last year of the Saturn S model the radiators fail at the top transmission cooler line area its there weak point. The manual transmission cars its not near as bad because theres no transmission fluid going thru the radiator. The 200 character what?
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Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 AT 8:21 AM
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Actually both vehicles ARE manual trans. But I am dumbfounded as to why that is a weak point? It fails as if something were pushing at it specifically at that point/place I wonder if it is a manufacture defect of wall thickness or some other design flaw? The 'character' remark was required when I tried to submit question.
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Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 AT 11:12 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
There is nothing pushing right there and yes the manual ones do fail but not as often as the automatic transmission ones. Its just a weak point on the factory radiators.I have a aftermarket one in my 1999 sl2 automatic transmission with 110,000 miles on that radiator with no signs of bulging. As far as the 200 character that was limited for the question asking because you should have seen the lengths of some question sizes. You could get lost on what the question actually was be time reading some of the peoples questions. So the owners of the site decided to limit the size of the questions to 200 characters. Also to help cut the spammers we get hit with a lot of spammers using the questions for there own personal advertising space.I hate wasting time reading those when I could be helping people in need of my help.
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Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 AT 12:04 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
So what kind of FREEZE does this 98 take? I go to 'advance auto' site and the choices are somewhat confusing! I was under the impression it takes 'orange' koolaid?
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Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 AT 8:57 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
It gm dexcool you can use the universal coolant orange kool aid.
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Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 AT 9:29 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
So I replaced the 1 but the other except on hot 90+ periods was not losing much and only apint on hot days. So on 1 I switched I decided to try a fix with plumbers epoxy putty ran out of jb weld. Have not tested yet./ First a solder gun plastic welded the crack and you can borrow plastic from mounts or other plastic edges if needed. Then I sanded and put a good coating of PP building extra ridge lines where plastic 1's cracked. On the other car i'm gonna do it right in the car. Oh yeah I shoulda mentioned I am running the coolant bottle cap LOOSE by a turn. Like I said, seems to work fine just add some when light shows.
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Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013 AT 4:50 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I can get those radiators for like 65-70 brand new lifetime warranty so I wouldn't even try to repair it. IF I tried it would blow coolant all over and leave me stranded.I wouldn't risk a coolant leak and possible engine damage.
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Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013 AT 8:47 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
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So YUP the REPAIR FAILED cracked in the SAME PLACE but i'm still gettin by just addin some occasionally i'm gonna repair again with a reinforcement of chicken wire with the JB WELD or some other metal NO FLEX element to keep it from crackin as long as I dont tighten CAP it does not seem to be a problem.
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Friday, November 15th, 2013 AT 4:34 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Eventually it's going to leak like crazy good luck with fixing it.
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Friday, November 15th, 2013 AT 4:48 PM

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